In ten years’ time, Kruidvat grew from 184 to 294 stores in Belgium. The retailer radically changed tack. More brand focus: short and long-term went hand in hand. Customer thinking first (with the customer journey as central focus) and form transactional thinking to building a real relationship with customers. The Kruidvat Inclusion Council set up in 2022, an independent group of experts, helps to ensure that its products really are for everyone.

Lunch Garden had a long time to recover from the corona crisis, which hit the hospitality sector hard. But it is now on the way up again, confirms CEO Ann Biebuyck: the restaurant chain is winning back customers with a modified menu that focuses on classics and children’s menus, and with savings campaigns.

Are bookshops corny? Forget it. In a book market heavily dependent on bestsellers, Standaard Boekhandel and Club are quicker to respond to trends, such as Young Adult literature, courtesy of TikTok. The shop concept is shaking up and clever use of customer data should boost sales. How?

If you want to seize a growing market, you have to make speed. In three years, Thomas Nouws grew his brainchild Jacob’s Concept Store from one to 24 branches in Belgium. Soon the first foreign shop will open in Paris, followed by the rest of the world. The recipe for success? A very special business model…

The buzzword of the year is undoubtedly “generative artificial intelligence”. But what can AI mean for retailers? A lot, if Microsoft is to be believed. Think about analysing customer behaviour and preferences to optimise a personalised customer experience. A new world is opening up…

Inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, declining consumer confidence… So what to do: bet everything on the short term and put marketing investments on hold? That would not be too smart. The speakers at the Retail Marketing Day illustrate how essential marketing is in times of crisis. And our moderator will explain why.

Tailored product selection. Frictionless transactions. Live chatting with brands. We have entered a new era of customer engagement marked by the big digital revolution happening with the metaverse and Web 3.0. The retail experience is evolving towards “phygital stores” that integrate technology solutions and visual merchandising to create an experiential, personalized shopping experience : “Retailtainment”

Tiles! Natural stone! Parquet! All the country knows the song of Impermo, the tile specialist that is on its way to national coverage with 20 showrooms. Now say again that floors are not sexy. Smart marketing with impact is what Impermo is all about. With a relentless focus on ROI as well as simplicity. The KISS principle in practice.

Retail is experiencing a revival of loyalty programmes, but: “There is no such thing as the perfect loyalty programme!” After all, it is different for every retailer. Being relevant is the key to serving consumers as personally as possible. How do you go beyond merely saving points? How do you turn data into personalised campaigns? A presentation with do’s and don’ts and many telling examples of how (not) to do it.

What’s in it for you?

• Practical Tips
• Winning strategies
• Networking
• Experienced professionals on stage

Language

• Most presentations are in Dutch
• Slides in English or Dutch